Introduction

Agricultural production has concerns in food quality and safety and the environmental impact of production methods in the short, medium and long term. Agricultural industry faces challenges and is undergoing an unprecedented period of change. Smart scientific and technological solutions are required to overcome the challenges and adopt the change for achieving sustainable and high yield agriculture production to meet the consumer demand of rapidly growing global population.

Our Agrotechnology (Minor in Business) programme provides necessary theoretical and practical skill and knowledge in crop and animal production systems as well as in agribusiness and marketing. The underpinning scientific, technical, and business principles and their applicability in recent local and global developments are incorporated in our curriculum. The curriculum also incorporates halal food production, and quality and safety requirement for local and global food market.

Our students gain understanding of the impact of global, regional and local policy on the agricultural industry and economy. They are able to assess agriculture environment interactions and devise environmental management strategies to manage agriculture as a business.

The programme prepares its graduates to:

• Apply the scientific, technical, economic, environmental and business principles underpinning agricultural productivity and production.
• Identify appropriate agricultural techniques in the crop and animal sectors to enhance efficiency of production and secure long-term food security.
• Identify and solve technological problems encountered in current crop and livestock production systems.
• Evaluate the wider consequences of agricultural activities and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
• Apply relevant knowledge, skills and technology concepts to the producers and to support innovation.
• Identify social, public health, safety and ethical issues in agricultural sectors and relate them to the responsibilities of agricultural employees with consideration to the national health, safety and ethical policy.
• Demonstrate knowledge of sustainable design and manufacturing and understand the environmental impacts of agricultural enterprises and identify new ventures in the agricultural sector.
• Make use of appropriate scientific and statistical methods and evaluations for decision making in various sectors of agriculture.
• Apply communication skill effectively both in oral and written forms and function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

Course Offered

Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Agrotechnology (Minor in Business)

Programme length: 3 years

Programme Aims

The aims of the programme are:

• To provide knowledge and skill in agrotechnology and business through theory and applications to function as an effective leader, manager, entrepreneur, or team member.
• To apply traditional and modern agrotechnology principles to crop and animal production systems for the sustainability of the agricultural industry, including the underpinning scientific, technological, economic and business principles and the applicability of recent developments.
• To provide opportunities for students to engage in the discovery and understanding of agriculture technology knowledge that are both thought provoking and relevant.
• To produce graduates with skill and attitude who can successfully work as an individual or team members in the context of agrifood production.
• To develop personal success skills to enhance individual employability and entrepreneurship in local as well as global agricultural sectors.

Careers and Further Studies

Graduates have the applied and technical knowledge together with communications and business skills to fill various high demand positions in the agricultural industry. Some of the potential local job opportunities are: halal food processing and quality assurance; legal, business scientific and technical consultancy to the agriculture and agrifood sectors; teaching and research in areas related to business, agriculture and agrifood; agricultural consultant; estates manager; farm manager; fish farm manager; plant breeder/geneticist; agro-soil scientist; agro economist; farm worker; farm Assistant; farm supervisor.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Applicants for admission to first degree programmes must satisfy the following minimum entry requirements:

• At least a Credit Six in the Malay language at GCE Ordinary Level (applicable only for Bruneians applying for a Government Scholarship).
• At least a Credit Six in Mathematics at GCE Ordinary Level or its equivalent.
• At least a Credit Six in English Language at GCE Ordinary Level or an IELTS score of 6.0 or TOEFL minimum overall score 550 or its equivalent.
• Programme Entry Requirements

Programme Entry Requirements

The minimum admission requirements for this programme are:

• A minimum of 200 ‘A’ Level points for 3 ‘A’ level passes including two relevant subjects that include (Biology, Chemistry, Food Studies, Physics, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Business and Economics).

  OR

• A minimum of 160 points for 2 ‘A’ level passes that include any of the subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Food Studies, Physics, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Business and Economics).

  OR

• An International Baccalaureate Diploma score of 24 points with a minimum of 5 points from two relevant subjects including Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics, Business and Management at standard level or a minimum of points at higher level.

  OR

• A relevant Diploma at BDQF Level 5 or its equivalent with minimum CGPA of 1.6 out of 3, and Merit grade or higher in at least 60% of modules including Microbiology and one of (Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Business).

  OR

• Relevant work experience and/or qualifications deemed to be equivalent to one of the above to be decided on a case by case basis by the school.

Programme Specification